People living in rural areas could benefit from smoother and more
frequent transport, thanks to Government funding announced today
(6 November).
Small businesses have won a share of £1.2m as part of the Rural
Transport Accelerator Fund, which supports the development of
innovative concepts that will improve rural transport, in
partnership with local authorities. The scheme aims to boost the
wellbeing of communities, support rural jobs and kickstart local
economies.
Winners include an AI tool to predict rural transport demand and
deliver on-demand services, as well as a health mapping tool to
support health providers in delivering hospital transport for
patients.
The eight projects, which have won £150,000 each, are spread
across the UK's rural areas and will be trialled from Norfolk to
Herefordshire, and Suffolk to south east Scotland.
Future of Roads Minister, said: “People who
live in rural areas have unique needs when it comes to transport,
and we're always looking for ways to improve connections across
the country.
“Through our funding, these projects will shake up the way rural
transport is delivered, using the latest innovations to help
residents see their friends and family, do their weekly food shop
or attend hospital appointments.”
The winning projects include:
-
You.Smart.Thing – development of an AI tool to
offer shared, demand responsive or community transport options
for those without car access, trialled in Warwickshire.
-
UrbanTide – mapping rural hospital patient
journeys to identify barriers to accessing health services in
rural areas and support health providers in enhancing rural
transport services, trialled near Fife.
-
Alchera Technologies – use of data insights to
create a behavioural travel model to help local authorities
with rural mobility decision making, trialled in Norfolk County
Council.
-
Civil Water Management – installation of new
drainage systems using recycled car tyres to aid safer cycling
along flood-prone sections of cycle routes, trialled in Milton
Keynes County Council.
This year's scheme called for solutions to a number of challenges
that rural areas face: the importance of rural roads for everyday
journeys; driving towards a sustainable future; enabling
innovation in rural mobility; advancements in agricultural
transportation; and open challenge – building communities and
enabling adoption of technology in rural areas.
The grant is delivered in collaboration with the Connected Places
Catapult (CPC), the UK's innovation accelerator for cities,
transport and place leadership.
Connected Places Catapult's Chief Executive Officer,
Erika Lewis said: “I am delighted to welcome eight
exciting companies onto the Rural Transport Accelerator. Their
innovations and technologies promise to make a real impact for
people living in rural areas, and I look forward to following
their progress through the programme over the coming months.”
Notes to editors
- The winning projects will be trialled in south east Scotland
(near Fife), Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Milton Keynes County
Council, Norfolk County Council, Suffolk and Broads National Park
(Norfolk/Suffolk).
- Please see the full list of winners here: https://cp.catapult.org.uk/?post_type=news&p=14603 (link
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